Shay stole a glance up at him to gauge his reaction but she had a better chance of reading stone. The man had a blank face. He did that a lot she noticed. Keeping his own council. Did he ever share his thoughts with anyone? Doubtful.
Drew refused to meet her gaze, instead it tracked his friends around them. “The decision has been made. When we finish here, I’ll take Shay back to my house. We’ll stop and get you some clothes unless there was something you wanted something from your father’s home?”
“No,” She said softly. She didn’t have any emotional attachment to anything in her father’s home. She had all she needed from there.
Shay touched her neck feeling the gold chain. Her mother’s necklace. It was a simple gold chain with a Saint Christopher medallion. Her mother had given it to her as she was dying. Touching it always gave her comfort. It made her feel like her mother was with her. She needed her mom now more than ever.
“Very good,” Drew nodded. “Let’s move out.” Drew pushed away from his desk. His gait was smooth reminding her of a predatory animal.
“We’ll be in touch.” Jack said patting her on the shoulder, giving her a sad smile.
“Drew may be a grumpy SOB but he’ll do anything to keep you safe, remember that.” Greg said.
Greg didn’t say anything she didn’t already know. She trusted Drew, she just wished she could keep up with his mood swings. One minute he was happy, looked like he was attractedher and then a wall came up between them and he pushed her away. “Thanks,” She gave them a wane smile.
She would just make sure to stay out of Drew’s way and let him focus on his job. He had an aversion to questions so she would keep them to a minimal. She’d keep to herself. He wouldn’t even know she was there.
Drew stood waiting for her at the door. His glower making her pause. Maybe it was a mistake choosing him. The caring man she’d known before was gone. Something else was in its place. A man she didn’t recognize. A warrior. A protector. Too late to turn back now.
Shay followed him out keeping her head down. She felt his gaze boring into her back as she walked to the elevator. If this was going to be his attitude until she could get home this was going to be a long wait.
The elevator seemed to shrink when he followed her in. He remained silent until they reached his house. They had stopped long enough to go to a store to pick out a few outfits. Shay hadn’t bothered to really look at the clothes. She’s grabbed a few things in her size and checked out. She wanted to pay for them herself but she was at the mercy of others. She had nothing to her name. No identification, no money, nothing.
“Do you require anything else?” Drew asked as she walked down the hall headed for the bedroom she’d stayed in the night before.
“No, thank you.” She said not turning around. She couldn’t meet his eyes. She hadn’t been able to since she decided to stay with him.
The way he was acting was as if she’d sentenced him to a death sentence. She didn’t want to see that anger in his eyes again. That glower she’d seen before. It tore her heart.
When he didn’t say anything further she retreated to her bedroom. She looked around the sparse room, tears pooling inher eyes. She felt like she just sentenced herself to her own death sentence. Trapped in these four walls. Trapped in this house with a man who didn’t want her near.
She had wanted to believe Greg’s words. That Drew’s bark was worse than his bite. But it was hard to see that now.
Shay clasped her medallion in her hand and leaned back against the door frame. “What have I done, momma?” She whispered into the room not surprised when only silence greeted her.
Shay’s knees collapsed and slid down to the floor, uncaring as the tears streaked down her cheeks. It seemed all she did was trade one prison for another. Her father’s house, the cage, the club, and now here. The only thing that ever changed was who was in charge.
It could always be worse. Despite his attitude Drew took care of her. Apparently all he wanted from her was answers to his questions and her to ask few in return.
It felt like just another day in the life of Shay Brady.
Chapter 17
Drew stared at the closed door not knowing what to do. Shay had picked to live with him. He was elated and terrified at the same time. Drew was honored that she’d chosen him to keep her safe. He just couldn’t say he’d be able to keep his distance from her. In the romantic sense. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to.
Drew had wanted her since the moment he saw her. Every fiber of his being screamed she was his.
He touched the door. The woman he wanted more than his next breath was just on the other side of it. If he listened hard enough, he could hear her breathing.
It had been torture being so close to her for the past hour. Smelling her intoxicating floral scent. Wanting to bury his nose in it and get drunk. It was exhausting keeping his aloofness from her. Constantly reminding himself they didn’t belong together. That nothing could come of them so it was better to keep a distance from the beginning, but damn if he didn’t want to.
He wanted to kick her door in and take her. To have her screaming his name in pleasure until this burning desire in him was quenched.
It was wrong, he knew. Shay deserved a man she could rely on, one who would always be there for her. To have her back. And he could, but for a time. He wasn’t the forever kind of guy.
The only things he’d ever dreamed of was serving in the military. There had been the occasional women, but no one he ever considered spending his life with. The IED almost ruined his career. Thankfully the Colonel had pity on damaged veterans and gave them a new path. The missions he did now covert, evendangerous at times. He wasn’t gone as much as he used to when active duty, but it wasn’t the life for Shay.
He’d seen too many friends get divorced over their career. The length of time they were gone put strains on a relationship. Spouses gave them ultimatums, them or their career. He felt it was unfair for someone to make him choose. He’d never ask someone to give up their job for him so it wasn’t fair they’d try to do the same to him.
